10 Players to Watch in World Football This Weekend of October 24-26
Fast as you like, the major European action of this midweek is over and our focus swings back toward the mainstay of any season—the domestic scenes of the weekend.
We've created our usual roundup of all the biggest and best leagues, from Europe and beyond, to bring you the key names and faces to look out for in important clashes over the coming few days.
This week's roundup devotes the latter part of its focus to one game in particular: El Clasico, Real Madrid vs. Barcelona, which takes place on Saturday. We make no apology for this—it's one of football's biggest games, both teams are in prime form and are packed with star names.
Enjoy!
Xabi Alonso
1 of 10
We'll begin over in the Bundesliga, where a match of great importance takes place on Sunday.
The top two clash, as leaders Bayern Munich travel to Borussia Monchengladbach with a four-point gap between them—as well as a gulf in expectancy and expenditure.
Bayern have been in immense form of late, domestically and abroad, with the performances of veteran new-signing Xabi Alonso prominent and impressive regardless of the positions of those around him.
He has orchestrated the play in the centre for Bayern, allowing Philipp Lahm and others to raid through the centre of midfield in more advanced positions, finding space and linking into the attack.
'Gladbach must shut down Alonso or risk being exposed time after time with his passing range and execution.
David De Gea
2 of 10
The biggest game in the Premier League this weekend sees Manchester United host league leaders Chelsea at Old Trafford.
United have improved somewhat of late under Louis van Gaal, but are still not the well-oiled machine they wish to be, nor the impenetrable side of old.
Against Chelsea, they will come up against the league's best attack, even shorn of a striker or two, and will doubtless be looking to goalkeeper David de Gea to come up with his usual heroics.
Even when United have been underperforming over the past 14 months, De Gea has kept his own levels of performances up and is without doubt one of the team's star players now—and will be vital to his team in keeping the Chelsea attack at bay.
Ilkay Gundogan
3 of 10
After missing more than a full season through injury, German midfielder Ilkay Gundogan is back on the pitch for Borussia Dortmund and already displaying his abilities.
The central playmaker might take a while to get back up to full speed, but with BVB really struggling in the Bundesliga, they are likely to turn to his passing, creativity and link-up play as often as possible at present.
Dortmund face Hannover this weekend, looking to end a run of four losses in five games. Hannover had made a good start to the campaign but have suffered the same run of form of late—giving Dortmund an opportunity to get back to winning ways and a slow climb up the table, to which Gundogan will once more be central.
Pedro Morales
4 of 10
Crossing the waters briefly, the final round of fixtures in Major League Soccer takes place this weekend. While positions and places are still to be sorted ahead of the MLS Cup, only two teams are now vying for the final playoffs place: Vancouver Whitecaps and Portland Timbers in the Western Conference.
It's advantage Whitecaps at the moment as they hold fifth spot by a single point going into this last round of games, needing only to match the Timbers' result—and, crucially, they play their final game at home against Colorado Rapids (seventh), while Portland are away to Dallas (fourth).
Pedro Morales will be a key man in Whitecaps' attacking midfield line, with his ability to link play, run beyond the striker and find the back of the net in regular fashion a great outlet for his side. He could be the most likely candidate to strike a crucial goal if his side need it, and send them through to the playoffs.
Ronaldinho
5 of 10
To Mexico now and the Liga MX, where global star Ronaldinho continues to ply his trade with Queretaro.
The Brazilian hasn't been able to help his side make a charge for the league title—in fact they have slipped down the table to 12th of late—but he has no regrets over his move to the Liga MX, as per Goal.com.
Ronaldinho, however, continues to draw the crowds and has netted three goals in five games, including one in their most recent 2-1 defeat against Tijuana.
This weekend, he gets the chance to show off his abilities against the league's best club, America. The Friday night match is set to pitch the two in a game of plenty of intrigue—the highest-profile individual vs. the highest-profile team.
It's unlikely Ronaldinho can win games by himself any more, but it's a chance to show what he can do against the best in the division.
Keisuke Honda
6 of 10
Back to Europe now and AC Milan's Keisuke Honda has been so improved with his end product this term that Adriano Galliani, Milan CEO, joked that "during the summer we sent his brother back and managed to get the real Honda sent to Milan," per Yahoo Sports.
After only managing one goal in Serie A last half-season, after joining from CSKA Moscow, the Japanese attacker, now in a right-sided forward's role, has already scored six times in seven appearances in 2014-15.
Milan take on Fiorentina in an important fixture on Sunday, where Pippo Inzaghi's side will hope to make it three wins in a row and edge closer to the top three.
Raphael Varane
7 of 10
To El Clasico now, two players from each side and ignoring Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, who we already know are worth watching each weekend. Real Madrid are home, so we start with them.
Sergio Ramos is expected to be fit for the match on Saturday afternoon after injury kept him out of the recent international break, but whose place he takes is a matter of great importance for Carlo Ancelotti.
There is no doubt whatsoever that Real have looked more organised, better balanced and stronger at the back when Raphael Varane has been in the team, which means no place for Pepe in the back four.
It's a big call to leave out such an experienced player, but Varane and Ramos complement each other's styles, and it's hardly as if the Frenchman is a rookie—he's a first-choice international with a World Cup under his belt.
He is also, by this season's form, Real's best defender.
It shouldn't be a difficult call to leave him in, but El Clasico is such a big match that managers can at times second-guess too much.
Jeremy Mathieu
8 of 10
The attackers get a lot of attention in these games, and rightly so given their abilities, but it just means that the defenders have to step up to the mark and show their own levels even more.
Jeremy Mathieu has proven to be an excellent addition to Barcelona's team this summer, being fast and aggressive and forging a good early partnership with Javier Mascherano—although the central defensive duo has been switched around frequently by Luis Enrique.
There is little doubt that Barca's amazing defensive record of zero goals conceded in eight La Liga matches will come under serious threat this weekend, though, with Real hitting 30 goals themselves this season.
How Mathieu performs, covers the left side of defence—where Benzema, James and Co. will rove—and, vitally, whether he is able to drift across to his right to close out the inevitable runs of Cristiano Ronaldo, left to right infield before shooting, will determine in part how long Claudio Bravo keeps his clean sheet intact.
Isco
9 of 10
Isco has been an exceptional performer for Real Madrid this season when called upon, not always starting but always deserving to start when he does.
His touch, technique and balance on the ball give Madrid yet another creative outlet through the centre or wide, and he impacts on the match whether he starts in midfield or in the front line. His versatility is great to give Ancelotti attacking options and the ability to change formations, but it is Isco's vision and ability to pick the final pass that have made him such a danger this term.
He certainly deserves to start El Clasico and, with Gareth Bale injured, he almost certainly will. Don't bet against him having a big say on proceedings.
Luis Suarez
10 of 10
Our last focus comes for one who is likely to start as substitute, but will almost certainly enter the field at some point—and is very, very capable of hitting the ground running.
Luis Suarez has been suspended from meaningful games since his World Cup bite on Giorgio Chiellini, but he is finally available for his competitive debut in the Santiago Bernabeu. Hard-working, with great acceleration, dribbling ability and a penchant for scoring the sublime and the ridiculous, Suarez is a world-beater by himself who is joining in a team of seasoned winners.
For those wondering just how much time he'll need to settle in...he scored 16 minutes after coming on as sub for his debut with Liverpool.
